Popularly known as “Buck House”, has served as the Monarch`s permanent London residence since the accession of Queen Victoria. It began its days in 1702 as the Duke of Buckingham`s city residence, built on the site of a notorious brothel, and was sold by the Duke`s son to George III in 1762. The building was refurbished by Nash in the late 1820s for the Prince Regent, and again by Aston Webb in time for George V`s coronation in 1913. It is the largest private house in London – it has more than 660 rooms.
The Ball Room, which is the largest room in the palace, opened to the public for the first time in 2000. The 19 State Rooms at the palace, which include the Throne Room and the Picture Gallery, house treasures including English and French furniture, paintings by Rembrandt and Rubens and sculpture by Canaletto. Visitors can also see inside the Royal Mews, which is one of the grandest working stables in the world.
The façade of this internationally known palace has not always presented the appearance it does today. It was originally a townhouse built by John Sheffield, the Duke of Buckingham, and a friend of Queen Anne. In 1703 she granted him the land-at the corner of St James’s Park and Green Park-on which the Palace now stands. It was first known as Buckingham House.
Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of Britain’s sovereigns since 1837. The State Rooms of the Palace are lavishly furnished with some of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection and are open to visitors during the Annual Summer Opening in August and September. For the first time ever, visitors will be able to experience the spectacle of the Palace’s Ballroom set up for a State Banquet.
Royal Mews
One of the finest working stables in existence, the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace provides a unique opportunity for visitors to see the work of the Royal Household department that provides road transport for The Queen and members of the Royal Family by both horse-drawn carriage and motor car. The Royal Mews has a permanent display of State vehicles. These include the magnificent Gold State Coach used for Coronations and those carriages used for Royal and State occasions, State Visits, weddings and the State Opening of Parliament.
The design of the 40-acre garden dates back to 1825 when Buckingham House was transformed into a palace. King George IV appointed William Townsend Aiton, in charge of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, to oversee the remodeling of the grounds. It was a time when less formal gardens were becoming popular, inspired by the work of Humphrey Repton and Capability Brown. Over the years the garden has undergone many changes, including the clearing of dense Victorian shrubs by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth and the introduction of decorative flowering trees and shrubs. There are over 200 mature trees — wild cherry and fern-leaved beech, among them — in the garden and more than 350 kinds of wildflowers along the lake.
Buckingham Palace is situated at the Western end of the Mall, next to St. James Park and Green Park. Since 1660 Buckingham Palace and the other Royal Palaces have been guarded by the Household Troops. Like the palace, the Household Troops are famous the world over dressed in full uniform of red tunics, black trousers and bearskins (the famous black ‘hat’). The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace is what many tourists specifically come to see. This takes place at 11:30 every day in the summer, and every other day in the winter and lasts about 45 minutes.
Tips & insights on Buckingham Palace
Although the palace’s exterior is not spectacular, some of the rooms are. They are opulently furnished – and paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens and other masters grace the walls.
You can take an inside tour. The best time is in the summer when the Queen is away at her Scotland palace. This allows the magnificent State Rooms to be added to the tour.
Location
Buckingham Palace is located in the Westminster district of London within St. James Park. It is accessible from the tube and busses. Victoria Station is just to the south. Green Park is to the north of Buckingham Palace, Victoria Station and St. James Park stations are to the south. Hyde Park Corner is to the west.
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